Low fuel reading – TSB 16712

Ozz

Ozz

Senior Member
Low fuel reading – TSB 16712 -- the fix?

So I have the issue where the fuel gage reads empty long before the tank is empty. My car is out of warranty. If I were to take it in for this, would I be paying for the repair?

Does anyone know how much the sending unit costs? How hard is it to do the job myself? Does anyone have instructions that they could post (or paraphrase) here?

Thanks.
 
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Ozz said:
So I have the issue where the fuel gage reads empty long before the tank is empty. My car is out of warranty. If I were to take it in for this, would I be paying for the repair?

Does anyone know how much the sending unit costs? How hard is it to do the job myself? Does anyone have instructions that they could post (or paraphrase) here?

Thanks.
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Sorry to tell you this but some dealerships are going to give you a hard time fixing this problem EVEN WITH a warranty. (Sorry that is just me being mad at my dealership.) Maybe you will have better luck.
 
There was a TSB for an updated sending unit. But, TSB's are only covered under factory warranty. Sorry, man. Maybe they could cover it under warranty if your not to far out on miles and time. Sometimes they can get stuff covered if they actually try.
 
Ozz said:
So I have the issue where the fuel gage reads empty long before the tank is empty. My car is out of warranty. If I were to take it in for this, would I be paying for the repair?

Does anyone know how much the sending unit costs? How hard is it to do the job myself? Does anyone have instructions that they could post (or paraphrase) here?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I went in for this and the dealer replaced it. It was accurate for about a month and then behaved like the old one. I decided to hell with it. I am leaving it alone.
 
It seems I've never owned a car that has had an accurate fuel guage. Most have always showed empty long before tank really is. At least that's better than the other way around. In high school I had a 1960 VW w/no fuel guage, just had to calculate how many miles I could drive on a tank (no tripometer either). Gas was $.35/gal or less back then.
 
The fuel guage issue is not a TSB, it is a SSM (special service message). I've fixed many cars with this new sender. Here is a copy and paste of the article:

16985. 2003 CROWN VICTORIA/GRAND MARQUIS/MARAUDER/TOWN CAR - FUEL GAUGE DROPS OFF FULL QUICKLY/READS LOW.
SOME 2003 CROWN VICTORIA/GRAND MARQUIS/MARAUDER/TOWN CAR VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL GAUGE THAT COMES OFF FULL TOO QUICKLY OR READS LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK (ELECTRONIC OR ANALOG CLUSTER). TO SERVICE, INSTALL REVISED FUEL SENDING UNIT 2W1Z-9275-AB.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/23/2003

Bring this to the dealer and tell them you want this repair done. While you are there, ask for some "after warranty assistance". If you are the original owner and do have your services done there, they might help you. It is stricktly up to them.
 
Sweet Jebus I thought I was going crazy when the fuel low light came on and I was only able to get 12 gallons in a "empty" 19 gallon tank.
 
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This might qualify for "service parts" warranty.

67435animal said:
I went in for this and the dealer replaced it. It was accurate for about a month and then behaved like the old one. I decided to hell with it. I am leaving it alone.
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If this was done in less than one year and 12000 miles ago, It can be done again at no charge to you.
 
Shora said:
Sorry to tell you this but some dealerships are going to give you a hard time fixing this problem EVEN WITH a warranty. (Sorry that is just me being mad at my dealership.) Maybe you will have better luck.
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I just got told a few minutes ago that I could run cleaners and 93 to clear the issue up. My reply was last 4 tanks was techron additive and I only fill up with 93 from cheveron. They then said ok and I'm hoping they do fix it.
 
scratch that! 2 hrs later they said run additives to clean it!

@31,870 THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE OUT OF WARENTY!
:mad: :fire: :mad2: :censor: :bs:
 
Huh??

merc6 said:
I just got told a few minutes ago that I could run cleaners and 93 to clear the issue up. My reply was last 4 tanks was techron additive and I only fill up with 93 from cheveron. They then said ok and I'm hoping they do fix it.
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Whoever said this is full of S---. Also if a dealer won't do this repair, take it to another one.
 
car is being shipped to Va from TX. If not by then I'mm gonna call alot of people up. The extended warenty requires me to pay a small deductible to fix it(Carmax). Red McCombs Ford off I-10 near calaghan
 
Mine in my 04 reads OK......50-75 miles to come off of "Full"....10 gallons to fill when at 1/2 and 17 gallons to fill it when the fuel light comes on!!

I remember when Shell was selling gas with a bunch of sulfur in it and it corroded the sender causing the gauge to read crazy......I think Shell replaced a bunch of Ford senders.....Was it in Florida??

Marauderjack
 
buddy had his 40th aniversary running on 6 cylinders when he filled up at shell in TX. I stay away from them and their Vpower depositives.
 
Wow. I just did a search cause I was baffled that my gauge drops to 1/2 a tank super fast then stays there forever. I e-mailed that TSB # to my friend at ford. Hopefully I can get it done before my warranty wheres out. So basicly I can drive this baby till it hits E and not worry huh?
 
Marauderjack said:
Mine in my 04 reads OK......50-75 miles to come off of "Full"....10 gallons to fill when at 1/2 and 17 gallons to fill it when the fuel light comes on!!

I remember when Shell was selling gas with a bunch of sulfur in it and it corroded the sender causing the gauge to read crazy......I think Shell replaced a bunch of Ford senders.....Was it in Florida??

Marauderjack
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I do about the same, usually 16 gallons to fill once the light comes on
 
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